Admission requires a baccalaureate degree preferably with a major in English and American and/or comparative literature from an accredited institution. However, the program is also open to students with majors in elementary or secondary education, fine arts, or social sciences who have done substantial work in English.

Application checklist:

Completed online application form

Statement of purpose

Two academic or professional letters of recommendation
- Applicants who have earned their Bachelor’s degree within the past five years must submit at least one academic letter of reference. It is strongly recommended for both letters to come from academic references. Supplemental letters may be submitted to slisadm@simmons.edu if desired. We do not accept recommendations from those who have a personal relationship with you (such as family members, doctors, or clergy).

Official college transcript(s) from all institutions attended (including those from which credit was transferred)*

Current résumé

Writing portfolio (not in excess of 20 pages)

A non-refundable application fee of $65
- If you have served our country through the U.S. Military, AmeriCorps, Mercy Corps, Teach For America, Peace Corps, or City Year, please contact our office for an application fee waiver.

Interview (strongly recommended). If you choose to have an interview, please call us after your application is complete to schedule this appointment

*International transcripts must be officially translated and evaluated for educational equivalency.

In addition to the requirements listed above, international students must also submit the following:

An official TOEFL or IELTS score (Simmons TOEFL code is 3761)

A Declaration of Finances form, along with original bank statements, to demonstrate ability to pay tuition and living expenses while enrolled at Simmons.

Application Deadlines

Fall (September)
Currently Accepting Applications

Spring (January)October 1

Summer (June)May 1

*If you wish to receive priority consideration for merit scholarships, please make sure to have a completed application by the priority deadline.

If you wish to apply for a specific term but the final deadline has passed, please contact our office at slisadm@simmons.edu or 617-521-2868 to inquire about your options.

Our alumni populate all continents; our students hail from many countries: Armenia, Romania, and Sri Lanka, to name a few. Of special note is our Vietnamese initiative: students from this program have become the first professional librarians in Vietnam. In the summer of 2004, we offered an institute to train professionals from various U.S. embassies around the world.

English Language Proficiency

The faculty requires that all prospective students for whom English is not the first language achieve a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum of 6.5 in each section is required for the IELTS test. The minimum TOEFL score is 213 (computer-based), 550 (paper-based), or 79-80 (internet-based). No exemptions will be considered. The SLIS institutional code is 3761; the departmental code is 90.

Due to immigration stipulations, international students requiring a student visa to study in the U.S. must be enrolled full-time in an academic program. Additionally, if you are currently in the U.S. and have any visa other than an F-1, you must check with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services regarding procedures for changing your visa status.

Interview Requirement

An interview with a SLIS representative is required for international applicants whose cumulative GPA is less than the equivalent of a US 3.0, for all dual degree applicants, as well as students applying to the doctoral program.

Application Deadlines

International applicants to the master's degree program are requested to apply for the term commencing in September only (exceptions can be made in special cases, please contact the Admission Office for more information); the application deadline is March 1, or February 1 for those wanting priority consideration for merit aid awards. The deadline for doctoral applications is January 15. All materials must be received by the posted deadline. An I-20 will be issued if admitted and the Declaration of Finances (see below) has been submitted. Please allow ample time for the pace of international postal services, obtaining visa documents, arrival in the U.S., and transitioning to a new environment.

Application materials may be submitted to the following address. The Simmons mailing address is the same for the entire College. Please specify in the first line of the address whether you are applying for the master's or doctoral program.

In the U.S., academic records or mark sheets are called "transcripts" (this is the term used throughout this Web site). All applicants who have studied abroad must submit official (signed in original ink and stamped with a seal) academic records for study completed at all universities (including schools where no degree or certificate was earned by the student). English translations and U.S. equivalencies of all transcripts are required. Please submit your transcript(s) to an organization that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Notarized translations are not acceptable. Photocopies or facsimiles are not acceptable.

A "college" abroad usually means a secondary institution whereas in the U.S., a college is an institution providing higher education. A college can be part of a larger university or represent a singular institution such as Simmons College. Academic records from overseas colleges, which are actually secondary schools (high schools in the U.S.), are not required as part of the application process. Courses taken at the secondary level do not fulfill the prerequisite requirements for application and admission to a graduate program. A baccalaureate in the U.S. is a first university degree. Many overseas systems award baccalaureates which represent the completion of secondary education or a year beyond.

Required Standardized Test Results

All applicants who do not have the US equivalent of a 3.0 cumulative GPA (undergraduate or graduate degree) must submit official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores, taken within the past five years. All doctoral students regardless of GPA must submit official GRE scores. There is no required minimum score. Copies of student score reports are not acceptable. The Simmons GRE code is 3761 (you must also choose either Library Science 4701 or Archival Science 4702). Further information about this exam can be obtained by contacting:

Applications from international students will be considered only after Simmons College has been notified directly by the appropriate testing service that the candidates have been certified as fully-proficient in English. The achievement of a satisfactory score on an English language proficiency test is not, in itself, a guarantee of admission, as the credential file is considered as a whole. The School does accept testimonials as a means of establishing English proficiency.

Applications cannot be reviewed without the receipt of these test scores. It is very important that applicants register for these exams well in advance of applying for admission.

Required Financial Documentation

You are not required to submit financial documentation before you are considered for admission to the program. However, should you be admitted, we cannot send registration information to you, nor issue the I-20 student visa application, until you have sent us the Declaration of Finances form indicating the source of funds you will use to meet your living and tuition expenses. (Download form.)

Please arrange with your bank, sponsor, and/or government to send an official statement indicating that you have sufficient funds in a bank for these educational expenses and/or that your tuition and expenses will be paid by your sponsor(s) or government. Please email or mail the documents, with signatures, to the address below. We ask that you apply to the program only if you are reasonably sure you will be able to meet the financial obligations.

All documents must be signed in original ink, written in English, and funds must be shown in U.S. dollars ($). Certain countries limit the amount of money which may be sent abroad. Thus, it is very important for the applicant to inquire about the regulations in the home country concerning transfer of funds. This information is required in order to process an I-20 to obtain an F-1 student visa.

Financial Assistance

International students are eligible for merit based scholarships which are awarded to the top 20-25% of new students entering in the fall (September) and spring (January) semesters. International students may also apply for the Dean's Fellowships which are our most prestigious awards. International students are not eligible for need-based grants or federal loans.

There is minimal funding available for doctoral students.

International students with student visas may be able to work in the libraries of Simmons College, but may not count these earnings as income to pay for tuition and expenses. Students with a student visa may not work off campus.

Academic Year

For each academic semester, students receive grades for each subject (course) taken. The first (fall) semester generally begins in early September and ends in mid December. The second (spring) semester generally begins at the end of January and ends in mid May. A third term (summer) is generally held from June to August.

*Only Master's students are eligible for Scholarships, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for federal loans and most private loans. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents may qualify for some private loans (contact Student Financial Services for more information).

Children's Literature Tuition

FALL 2018, SPRING 2019, SUMMER 2019

Tuition is calculated on a per credit basis each semester. Below you will find a listing of the tuition rates for your program. The activity fee is mandatory for all students, so it has been included below. For information on health insurance fees, please see "Health Insurance for Graduate Students".

Tuition

$1,075 per credit hour

Activity Fee

$57 per semester

Health Insurance for Graduate Students

Please note, health insurance is automatically added to the bill only if the student is enrolled full time (9 or more credits). If a full time student does not wish to use the school provided health insurance, they must complete the waiver form online, each academic year, at www.universityhealthplans.com.

Simmons College does not offer health insurance coverage to students enrolled in less than 9 credits OR the dependent(s) of any Simmons College student.

Please allow at least three business days for received documents to be reflected on your application status page.

To access the application, use a newer version of Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Users will not be able to access forms through Internet Explorer 6, 7, or 8 on Windows XP.

To Submit Your Transcripts and Test Scores

We accept both electronic and mailed transcripts. Regardless of format, these documents need to be submitted to our office directly from your institution. If your institution is able to securely email their transcripts, they can be sent to slisadm@simmons.edu or through a service such as Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or National Student Clearinghouse.

If the documents must be mailed, please be sure to specify the SLIS Admission Office in the address below:

Application FAQs

Can I submit electronic transcripts?

Yes! We accept both electronic and mailed transcripts. Regardless of format, these documents need to be submitted to our office directly from your institution. If your institution is able to securely email their transcripts, they can be sent to slisadm@simmons.edu or through a service such as Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or National Student Clearinghouse.

Can I submit my online application before all of my required materials are received?

Yes, and we encourage it! Once you submit your application, you will be able to log in to the self-service center to check the status of your application and to see if your materials have been received. Prior to submitting your application you cannot check your status online.

What should I do if my recommenders did not receive an email requesting a letter?

First, suggest your recommender check her/his spam folder. Since the notifications come from an automated system the messages often end up in spam. Not there? Contact us and we can resend the notification. You can also resend invitations from your self-service center.

How quickly are my application materials processed?

Once you submit your application, we will look for any previously received materials to attach to your application. It usually takes 3-5 business days, especially during peak application times, for our office to process and attach materials. We'll mark the materials as received by the date they arrived in our office, not the date we add them to your application.

If an interview is required or recommended for the program I’m applying to, do I need to complete the interview prior to the deadline?

No. Our interviews are conducted by faculty and program directors. They typically have limited availability, so we only require your other supporting materials prior to deadlines and if your interview is scheduled after a deadline, you’ll still be considered "complete" by that date.

Will I be notified when my application is complete?

Yes, you will receive an email once your application is complete and under review.

How long will a decision take after my application is complete?

You will receive a decision within 3-4 weeks from your completion date.

Will my decision letter be emailed or mailed?

We mail our decision letters. If you notice that your application status has changed to “Decision Mailed” please allow at least one week for the letter to arrive before contacting our office.

Can I take classes before I apply?

Yes, we have a pre-matriculated option each fall and spring semester. Anyone with a completed bachelor’s degree and at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA is eligible to apply to take up to two courses prior to starting the degree program. Course options are based on space availability in classes and we typically announce the classes in August for the fall semester (September start) and December for the spring semester (January start). Please contact our office for more information.

Do I need to submit the FAFSA and Student Information Form by the priority deadline?

No. Scholarship consideration for applicants who submit by the priority deadline is merit-based only. Students interested in applying for additional financial aid, in the form of loans, can do so at any point by submitting the FAFSA and Student Information form to Student Financial Services. Please visit their website for more details, or contact their office at sfs@simmons.edu or 617-521-2001.